Illuminating arrangement



March 5, 1935.

J. D. WHlTTAKER ET AL ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT Filed April 20, 1952- 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill ATTORNEY March 5, 1935. J. D. WHITTAKER ET AL1,993,426

ILLUMINAT ING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1932INVENTORS Jwuvllhflfiuukac Mo 6. hack,

BY /W AT RNEY" atentecl Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NewYork, N. Y., assignors to Welsbach Street Lighting Company of America,Philadelphia,

Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April 20, 1932, Serial No.606,321

14 Claims.

This invention relates generally to illuminating arrangements, such aselectrical illuminating bulbs of a type wherein the bulb is of acharacter or has so associated therewith a feature which 5 calls for apredetermined angular positioning of the bulb about an axis thereof forthe proper functioning of the illuminating arrangement, and moreparticularly to the provision therewith of means whereby the bulb issubject to a controlled angular adjustment for permitting the bulb toarrive at its said predetermined angular position and to be maintainedin that position.

The particular problem to which the invention is herein shown andapplied, and which it solves,

is that of street illumination. A recent development in this artcontemplates a substantially uniform illumination of the street area,and a redirection of the light that would uselessly illuminate thebuildings lining the street, into the street area. To attain such aresult requires fixtures or light sources constructed particularly withthis end in view, and where specially designed light sources are used,peculiar problems are'presented, which it is the aim of this inventionto solve.

Whereas, the ordinary sources of light used for street illuminationscatter their light rays uniformly in all directions around the source,so that the resultant illumination may be described as circular, recentpractice aims to direct the bulk of the light along the street itself,and to reduce the amoimt of light falling on the sidewalks, and stillmore so, the adjacent buildings. For this purpose either the lightsource must be specially designed so as to distribute the lightnon-uniformly or asymmetrically, or an ordinary light source must haveits light redistributed either by some external means or by somelightcontrolling means which forms a part of the bulb itself. It will beunderstood that the term asymmetric as referring to light distribution,is intended tosignify a non-uniform, non-circular light distribution,which is different in different directions radially from the source, andwhich light so that asymmetric light distribution is obtained.

When a bulb of this character is mounted on a fixture in the usualmanner, the relationship of the reflector to the area intended to beilluminated efliciently by the light source may not be that intended.For instance, where the customary incandescent filament bulb has thecustomary screw-threaded plug for insertion into a receptacle,.screw-threaded for seating the plug therein, the plug must be screweddown tightly into the receptacle in order that positive contact betweenthe terminals of receptacle and plug may be effected. The relationshipof plug and receptacle, when so assembled, is not capable of accurateand ready predetermination at the time of manufacture either of the plugor of the receptacle, an accuracy which requires that the reflector,forming a unit with the bulb, will properly direct the rays from thebulb in the desired direction upon the area to be illuminated. In anycase, the requirement that the receptacle be accurately located so thatthe end position of its threads bear a definitely fixed relation to thearea to be illuminated, and that the plug, which must be accuratelyconstructed for cooperation with the receptacle, be accurately relatedto the position of the reflecting means on the bulb, gives rise to greatexpense both in manufacture and in assembly of the several elements.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide means whereby anincandescent filament bulb lighting source, having a reflectorsubstantially integrally associated therewith so as to effect asymmetriclight distribution, may be located in a fixture and, without thenecessity of accuracy either in the manufacture of the bulb receivingmember of the fixture, orin the assembly of the bulb plug with the bodyof the bulb, the bulb and its reflector may be located quickly andeasily to direct the rays therefrom into proper association with thearea intended to be illuminated by such fixture. This adjustment of thebulb may be effected whether power is shut ofl or even if current isbeing supplied to the bulb. Such adjustment causes no interruption ofthe illumination supplied by the bulb either by failure to make suchadjustment, that is, by positioning the bulb in an incorrect position,or by movement of the bulb into its properly adjusted relationship.Adjustment of the bulb does not, in any way, affect the efliciency ofthe circult, the resistance of the lighting circuit being in no waychanged either during the making of the change, or at any timethereafter. The effective contacts between bulb and socket and betweenother conducting parts return always to a definitely fixed relationship,in which such parts are similarly related. Once the bulb has beenadjusted into such a position, and merely by such adjustment, it willremain fixed in that position by automatically operative means.

For the purposes of effecting this invention there is required, in someof its elements, the provision of an illuminating source, morespecifically of the incandescent filament type, having associatedtherewith a reflecting surface capable of diverting for illumination ofroadways, rays which normally would go either to such areas whereillumination is unwanted, as where the rays fall upon houses locatedimmediately adjacent the fixture, or to such points where the degree ofillumination is not important, as where the rays fall upon thesidewalks.

In one particular embodiment of such bulb, the reflector is designed tochange the normal distribution of light rays emanating from the filamentso that, as opposed to the production of an illuminated areasymmetrically disposedabout the fixture and circular in effect, an area,substantially elliptical or oval in shape and the center of figure ofwhich will not lie on the axis of the illuminating source, so that theillumination will be asymmetric, will be covered by the rays from thefilament directed by such directive means. Such reflector, in oneembodiment, is produced by the application, directlyto the glass of thebulb, and in the neighborhood of the filament, of a silvering coatingdistributed to produce the desired effect.

With an effectively illuminated area of the character indicated, thedirectional efiect of the reflector itself takes on added importance asthe clear intent of such a member is to extend the elliptical areaeffectively illuminated by the source not crosswise, but lengthwise, ofthe roadway, and as far beyond the illuminating source as possible. Aslight deviation from such directional effect, intended in the design ofthe illuminating source, would result in increased transverse, anddecreased longitudinal, illumination of the roadway. Therefore,adjustment of a bulb of this character, after association with itsfixture, and so that the directional effect of the reflector will beeffective for maximum efiiciency, becomes a necessary requirement.

Bulbs of this character are generally provided with screw-threaded plugsto be threaded into screw-threaded receptacles provided for the same. Inthe assembly of the plug with the bulb, and of the reflector with thebulb, the relationship of plug and receptacle cannot easily be accountedfor, and if they were, they would require expensive processes for theproper location of these elements. The means to assure ability to relatethe light directive means to the area to be illuminated, after the bulbhas been fixed in its receptacle, is made a part of such receptacle.

The bulb should be tightly seated in the receptacle with which it isassociated in order that electrical contact be positive. Therefore, thebulb must be screwed down tightly into the receptacle. To turn the bulbout of this tightly engaged relationship in order to obtain theadjustment would loosen the bulb from the tightly seated relationshipresulting in an invariable contact, causing an arc. The arc that wouldtake place would ruin both lamp and socket.

For this reason, the receiving socket for the bulb has been constructedof two sections, capable of relative rotation. One of the sectionsreceives the plug of the bulb so that the bulb may be tightly seatedtherein. The other section carries terminals for making connection withthe conductors supplying power to the fixture, means connecting the twosections transmitting this power to the receptacle in which the bulb isseated.

The two sections are heldv seated together resiliently, that is, theymay separate a small distance, but a powerful spring tends normally toreturn them to their tightly seated position. It is a factor of theinvention that, when the bulb is being seated in the receptacle,pressure of the spring becomes greater, and thereby increases thepressure of contact between plug and receptacle, and between thesections of the socket, with consequent reduction in' electricalresistance. Also, in this relationship, vibration of the two sectionswith relation to each other is substantially eliminated.

The two sections are retained together in such manner that they arerelatively rotatable. Between them are positioned means to form oneelectrode or conductor for transmitting power between the sections nomatter into what relation the sections may be rotated. This electrode orconductor additionally operates to resist such rotational movement andthereby to retain the sections in any position to which they may beadjusted. These results are accomplished by a pair of discs or rings,positioned in face to face, concentric relationship, and each havingratchet teeth of the same pitch and extent fonned therein so that theywill interlock as the spring forces the two sections together.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to any particularconstruction or arrangement of parts, or to any particular applicationof such construction, or to any specific manner of use. or to any of thevarious details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may bemodified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention,the practical embodiment herein illustrated and described merely showingone of the various forms and modifications in which the invention mightbe embodied.

For the attainment of these objects and of such other objects as mayhereinafter appear or be pointed out, we have illustrated an embodimentof our invention in the drawings wherein the same reference charactersrefer to the same parts throughout and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view, illustrating the arrangement of a lightingfixture embodying the invention in relation to an area to be illuminatedby one type of directive bulb;

Fig. 2 is a detail elevational view of a portion of a lighting fixture,parts of the fixture being broken away to illustrate the assemblytherewith of a bulb and socket embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a socket embodying theinvention, portions of the socket being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 isa sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, illustrating theconstruction of one of the ratchet discs;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, illustrating theconstruction of the other disc;

Fig. 6 is-a detail sectional view, taken on an arc at the position ofline 6-6 of Fig. 3, to illustrate the association of the discs and theirretaining elements; and

Fig. '7 is a view from the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 and in the direction ofthe arrows, parts being broken away to illustrate the association of theconnectors with the socket.

The invention is shown applied in connection with an outdoor lightingfixture unit 10, to be positioned, as shown, on a sidewalk 12 and withrelation to a roadway 14 and buildings 16. As

shown in Fig. 1, the intent of this illuminating unit is to dispose itseffective illuminating rays over an area 18, here shown as covering, forthe most part, roadway 14 and, but slightly, sidewalk 12 and buildings16. Also, the direct rays from the fixture are intended to extend thewidth of the roadway, but preferably not upon the walk at the other sideof the roadway, and, of course, not to the buildings on that side.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bulb 20 has associated therewith a reflectingunit 22 particularly designed for that specific purpose. While therefiecting unit may have any desired characteristic, the application ofthe invention is brst illustrated in connection with a unit of thischaracter. The bulb preferably is of the incandescent filament type,having a filament 24 located substantially at the center of thespherical portion 26 of the bulb, such center, in this case, also beingapproximately the focal point of reflecting unit 22. The filament isconnected to a plug 28 sealing the bulb and having the customarythreaded portions for reception in a screw-threaded receptacle.

For receiving and retaining this plug, the fixture unit has a socket 30intended to be seated and retained on a cover plate 32 in the unit sothat its terminals 34 will be retained by terminals 36 in the fixture.To terminals 36 may be connected the conductors 38, which extend throughthe fixture to a suitable power source (not shown). The socket, whenseated on the cover plate, will be arranged to dispose a bulbsubstantially in central relation to a globe 40 forming a cover for thefixture, this globe being retained by suitable fastening means 42.

The socket is constructed so that, after the bulb is seated firmlytherein by threading it completely into the socket, socket and bulb maybe axially adjusted without disturbing the connections between terminals34 and 36. Terminals 36 are generally of very heavy spring metal,extending toward each other from supports 44 so that, if terminals 34are not engaged, these members will spring together and complete acircuit. When terminals 34 are forced between the terminals 36, thelatter are separated and current must then flow through the socket, thebulb and the other portions of the circuit associated therewith. Aninsulator 46 may be interposed between terminals 34.

The socket consists of two sections 48 and 50, preferably of insulatingmaterial such as porcelain. Both may be substantially of the samediameter in order' to form a completed article of neat appearance. Insection 48, a bore 52 receives a thimble 54. Guided over the end 56 ofthe thimble is a cap 58 through which and the thimble a bolt 60 extendstoward and through the headed end 62 of the thimble. This bolt is cappedby a'nut 64 to prevent separation of thimble and cap. This nut may besecured against accidental displacement, due to the turning of the partswhen the socket is adjusted, by any of the well-known nut-lockarrangements, the details of such construction being outside the boundsof my invention. A spring 66 is seated between the flanged end 68 of thecap and the end wall '70 of a counterbore 72 in section 48.

Screw-threaded openings in the flange '76 of the thimble are intended toreceive the ends of screws '78, passed through the body of section 50and by means of which the thimble is secured firmly to section 50. Thesescrews also function to clamp to section 50, a conductor plate seated ina recess 82. Plate 80 extends to the outer periphery of section 50, atwhich point one of the terminals 34 is bolted thereto by a memberextending through the section and having its end nested in a recess 84,properly insulated.

Bore 52 and counterbore 72 are additionally enlarged into a bore 86 atthe forward end of section 48. In bore 86 there is seated a shell 88,screw-threaded to receive plug 28. As shown in the drawings, this shellhas at one end an inwardly turned fiange 90 through which securingmembers 92 are passed.

These members also extend through suitable passages 94 in section 48 tosecure to this section an annular member 96. Member 96 is of conductingmaterial and has formed therein, adjacent its outer periphery, anannular set of teeth 98 of regular pitch and depth. Oppositely disposedto member 96 and secured to section 50 is another annular member 100,likewise formed with teeth 102 of the same pitch and depth as those ofmember 96. Member 100 is secured to section 50 by means of devices 104,one of which, at least, secures to the section the other terminal 34.

The action of spring 66 will be to force the two sections together, ascan readily be seen by examination of the drawings. The teeth of themembers 96 and 100 will be forced to seat firmly together. However, thepivot formed by bolt 60 will not be interfered with so that the twosections may be rotated relatively any desired amount without affectingthe contact or conducting capacity of members 96 and 100. It is furtherto be noted that, when the plug 28 is turned down firmly in shell 88,cap 58 will be.

engaged by the plug and be forced inwardly into the counterbore 72,increasing the pressure exerted by the spring and thus more firmlyseating the members in contacting relationship. The bolt slides alongwith the cap, a recess in section 50 permitting such movement. A turn ofthe socket will, by reason of the camming action of the ratchet teeth,cause a slight raising of the section 48 away from section 50. Thespring will efiect immediate return of these sections to therelationship shown in Fig. 6. The necessary wiping contact by the plugas it is screwed down into the shell against the cap will not behindered,

nor will the firm seating of the bulb, when the cap has reached itslimit of movement and abuts the end of the thimble, be lessened.

It will be understood that, while we have illustrated herein theilluminating arrangement in connection with which our invention isemployed as being a bulb provided with reflecting areas for givingasymmetric light distribution for street illumination in accordance withthe prototype, that my socket arrangement is capable of employment inbulbs having similar problems, and adaptable for other purposes, as forexample, in presenting to view in a predetermined angular arrangementsome emblem or characteristic appearing on the face of the bulb, and itwill be further understood that such uses fall within the scope of ourinvention, because from one aspect,- while it is not intended that insuch cases the illumination shall be asymmetric, when analyzed to theirbasic aspect, it will be found to be the I'ull equivalent thereof.

Many other changes could be elfected in the particular apparatusdesigned, and in the methods of operation set forth,'and in the specificdetails thereof, without substantially departing from the inventionintended to be defined in the claims, the specific description hereinbeing merely to illustrate an operative embodiment carrying out thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. Incombination with an electric illumination standard, an electricincandescent filament bulb to supply asymmetric illumination, electricalconductors associated with the standard for supplying power tothe bulb,an electric socket made up of two relatively movable sections eachprovided with cooperating electrically conducting means, one of thesections being fixedly related to the standard and having its conductingmeans in electrical contact with said electrical conductors, whereby abulb received in the socket may be adjusted with relation to thestandard to change the asymmetry of the illumination, while remainingfixedly assembled in the socket and without disturbing its electricalconnection with said conductors.

2. A socket for an electric illuminating bulb for giving asymmetricillumination, comprising a bulb receiving and retaining section, and aconductor anchoring section, the two sections being resiliently retainedagainst separation but being relatively rotatable, and means forcompleting the electrical circuit between the two sections in allrelative angular positions of the two sections, and means formaintaining the two sections in any one of a number of angular positionsand against accidental rotation therefrom.

3. A socket for an electric illuminating bulb for giving asymmetricillumination, comprising a bulb receiving and retaining section, aconductor anchoring section, resilient means for retaining the twosections against separation but permitting relative rotation of thesections, and means for completing the electrical circuit between thetwo sections in all positions of relative adjustment.

4. A socket for an electric illuminating bulb comprising a bulbreceiving and retaining section, a conductor anchoring section,resilient means for retaining the two sections-against separation butpermitting relative rotation of the sections, said means providing oneterminal of contact for the bulb in the bulb receiving and retainingsection, and means for completing the electrical circuit between the twosections in all positions of relative adjustment, said means operatingto retain the sections against accidental rotation.

5. In combination in an electric fixture for asymmetric illumination, apair of interfitted socket sections, one of the sections having athreaded bulb receiving and retaining socket seated therein, a pair ofconductor terminals on the other section, a sectional connectorelectrically connected to one terminal and extending between the twosections, resilient means cooperating with the connector for, retainingits'sections in assembled relation, the connector providing an axis ofrotation for the sections, and a pair of opposed contacts, one on eachsection, one contact being connected to the other terminal, and saidcontacts being forced together at all times by the operation of saidresilient means.

6. In combination in a lighting fixture for asymmetric illumination, 9.pair of interfitted socket sections, one of the sections having athreaded bulb receiving and retaining socket seated therein, a pair ofconductor terminals on the other section, a sectioned connectorelectrically connected to one terminal and extending between its twosections, the connector providing one contact for the bulb received inthe threaded socket, resilient means cooperating with the connector forretaining the sections in assembled relation, the connector providing anaxis of rotation for thesections, and a pair of opposed contacts, one oneach section, one contact being connected to the other terminal, and thecontacts being forced together at all times, by the operation of saidresilient means.

I. In combination in a lighting fixture for asymmetric illumination, 8.pair of lnterfitted socket sections, one of the sections having athreaded bulb receiving and retaining socket seated therein, a pair ofconductor terminals on the other section, a sectioned connectorelectrically connected to one terminal and extending between its twosections, the connector providing one contact for the bulb receivedin-the threaded socket, resilient means cooperating with the connectorfor retaining the sections in assembled relation, the connectorproviding an axis of rotation for the sections, and a pair of opposedplates having ratcheting elements thereon, one on each section, oneplate being connected to the other terminal, the other plate beingconnected to the threaded socket, the plates being forced together atall times by the resilient means.

8. A socket for incandescent bulbs having two longitudinally alignedsections pivotally related to each other, one being adapted to receivean incandescent bulb, and the other adapted for mounting in fixedrelation to the electric conductors of the power source, complementarymeans on said sections adapted to contact electrically, for conductingelectricity from the fixed section to the bulb-receiving section, meansfor holding said complementary means in electrical contact, saidcomplementary means and said holding means being constructed andcooperating so as to maintain the two sections in any one of a number ofangular positions and against accidental displacement therefrom.

9. A socket for incandescent bulbs having two longitudinally alignedsections pivotally related to each other and of substantially the samediameter, one being adapted to receive an incandescent bulb, and theother adapted for mounting in fixed relation to the electric conductorsof the power source, complementary means on said-sections adapted tocontact electrically, for conducting electricity from the fixed sectionto the bulb-receiving section, means for holding said complementarymeans in electrical contact, said complementary means and said holdingmeans being constructed and cooperating so as to maintain the twosections in any one of a number of angular positions and againstaccidental displacement therefrom.

10. A socket as in claim 8 in which the sections abut each other, sothat pressure exerted on the lumination, comprising an electricincandescent filament bulb having light directive means permanentlyassociated with the casing thereof, for securing asymmetry of lightdistribution, and said bulb being provided with a screw type base, athreaded unit adapted to receive said base in threaded engagement, and afixed element pivotally associated with said threaded unit, andpermitting angular adjustment thereof for varying the axis of asymmetryof the bulb, electrical conducting means within said fixed element inconducting relation to a source of electrical power,

and electrical conducting means within the threaded unit adapted toconduct electricity from said fixed element to the base of said bulb,and means for maintaining said unit and said element in contact whilepermitting relative adjustment and against accidental displacement fromall positions of relative adjustment.

13. A lighting unit as in claim 12 in which the unit and the element areso related as to permit step-wise angular adjustment by smallincrements.

14. A lighting unit as in claim 12 in which the threaded unit is locatedpositionally intermediate the bulb and the fixed element, and is seatedthereon, and forms an extension of the latter, whereby pressure on thebulb will be transmitted to the fixed element and will be resistedthereby.

JOHN D. WHI'I'IAKER. MORRIS B. BECK.

